Top 14: Toulon prepare Carl Hayman
bid but confirm Tana Umaga is returning home
15 March 2010
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Wanted: Carl Hayman
Photo: Michael Paler |
All
Blacks prop Carl Hayman is reportedly the latest big-name
signing being lined up by Top 14's Toulon.
The
Newcastle Falcons star is said to be weighing up offers from
both Toulon and the New Zealand Rugby Union as he
contemplates whether to return home in time to make the All
Blacks' World Cup squad.
News of
their interest in one of the world's most prized props comes
in the same week that the club has confirmed that backs
coach Tana Umaga will definitely leave at the end of the
season to take up a player-coaching role with Counties
Manukau back in New Zealand.
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Umaga
was previously head coach of the Top 14 outfit as he
presided over their rise from ProD2 two seasons ago, but
stepped back to allow Philippe Saint-André to take over
after struggling in their first season back in the top
flight.
Toulon
had been keen to keep him on as backs coach but Umaga has
always expressed a desire to return back to New Zealand and
has been given the perfect opportunity with the player-coach
role at Counties.
"My
family and I are excited to be returning home and I am
looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead," said
Umaga. "I would like to thank Counties Manukau for having
faith in my ability and giving me this opportunity," he
added.
Umaga is
well liked and respected at Toulon and he could be in for a
surprise playing return before the season is out following
Friday's serious injury to winger Christian Loamanu. The
Toulon player dislocated a hip while setting up Olivier
Missoup's try against league leaders Castres and will now be
sidelined for five months. That has raised the possibility
of Umaga being roped in as a 'medical joker' for the
remainder of the season, although that has yet to be
confirmed either by the player of the club.
He
notably returned to playing to help his side avoid
relegation at the tail end of last season, but this time out
would be helping them try and pick up some silverware - a
tempting prospect if ever there was one.
Meanwhile, rumours that he would take
Toulon's rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams with him
appear wide of the mark however, with the French club
currently in discussions with the Kiwi-born player about
another year's extension.
And now
it seems that if Williams does stay he could be joined by
fellow Kiwi Hayman as the Toulon club attempt to renew the
well worn path between Newcastle Falcons and the Cote
d'Azur.
They
have already prized both Jonny Wilkinson and Tom May away
from the north east and now look set to add Hayman to that
group. The New Zealander has no doubt been in contact with
his former team-mates about playing and living conditions in
Toulon, and he will have found encouraging news in the
team's recent form with Saint-Andre's team currently riding
high on the back of five successive league wins.
They
look set for an end-of-season play-off berth - as well as
Heineken Cup rugby next season - and also have an ACC
quarter-final to take in at the start of April.
And if
it's money alone that decided Hayman's future then it would
appear that Toulon must be in pole position for his
signature as multi-millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal
continues to finance an increasingly star-studded squad.
England
winger Paul Sackey recently agreed a two-year deal to join
from London Wasps and the likes of Juan Sebastien Lobbe,
Wilkinson, Williams and Joe van Niekerk are already well
established there.
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